You love Downton Abbey. I love Downton Abbey. But does Mary Crawley love Downton Abbey? The actress who plays her, Michelle Dockery, says she's not ready to leave. She assured us that her love for working on the show endures. "There’s a part of me that doesn’t want it to end, because I love it so much and once it’s all over, I’m sure there will be a period when I feel slightly at a loss. It’s like this love affair that I have with my job."
Oh Michelle, we don't want it to end, either. We know exactly what you mean by feeling at a loss when you leave and (record scratch) -- wait. Wait, wait, wait. Michelle. What is this "once it's all over" business? What are you saying? What are you TALKING ABOUT? Don't tell us you're getting killed off, too -- we can't take it.
I'm taking a deep breath. And now I'm re-reading the whole thing. I may have jumped to conclusions. Yes, I'm pretty sure I read too much into that quote. It doesn't sound like she's saying Mary will be killed off on the show. Sorry for that momentary panic.
Not that I'd freak out if there were more killings on the show -- it all depends on who it is. I've given this question a great deal of thought, and I've come up with a list of The Downton Characters I'd Most Hate to See Killed Off. Herewith, they are in order from "I would stop watching and cry for a week" to "what the hell, go ahead and snuff 'im out."
1. Dowager Countess. Just don't.
2. Lady Edith
3. Mr. Carson
4. Lady Mary
5. Thomas
6. Daisy
7. Tom Branson
8. Mrs. Hughes
9. Anna
10. Mrs. Patmore
11. Lady Cora
12. Bates
13. Isobel
14. William
15. Alfred
16. Lord Grantham
17. Isis the Labrador
I hope you know I gave this list an awful lot of thought. I spent hours switching names around and I'm still not 100 percent committed to the exact order, but it's as close as I'm going to get.
What would your Downton Abbey kill-off list look like?
Image via Masterpiece Theater